Morning journal and courier., 1887-07-11
AFURIOUs GALE OF WIND.

Heavy Rain and a Violent Blow in the | Harbor-A SharpIe Capsized and Four Men Narrowly Escape Being l DrOwned-OGher m1shaps Caused by she Gale.
 Shortly after o'clock yesterday afternoon l dark clouds overspread the horizon and a heavy wind and thunder storm struck the city, followed by downpour of rain. The
 storm was of short duration, but did consid- erable damage. Small trees were blown
 down about the outskirts of the city. Sev- eral were broken of in East Rock Park. The top of poplar tree corner of Whalley avenue and Garden street was blown off. The wires of the telephone company were badly crossed and communication with most of the shore towns was cut off. There was perfect gale blowing for 8 short time on the harbor. It sprung up sud- denly. Before the storm the weather was almost perfect, except being sultry, and there were numerous sailing parties out. The steamer Kissimee met with exciting oc- currence. The steamer, with about 25O excursionists on board bound for Faulkner's Island, had proceeded just beyond the old chemical works when the squall struck them. What followed is told by an eye witness, ex-SheriH Blake man, who was on the steamer. Those on board saw a two-masted sharpie in the rear, which they passed 8 few moments before and seemed ready to capsize. The masts of the sharpie were broken off, one after the other, and the sharpie then capsized and turned bottom up. There were four men in the boat at the time and they could be seen clinging to the wreck. The waves were runs ming very high and those aboard the Kissimee expected to see some of them let go every minute, as the force of the waves must have
 been great Some of the women on the boat cried and there was much alarm for the endangered men. Captain Shepard of the Kissimee with commendable alacrity or dered the steamers pilot to put about at once to the rescue and to put on full head of steam. The Kissimee was soon in hailing distance of the men clinging to the capsized sharpie. One of the men was rescued by rope being thrown to him. The boat then drifted away from the steamer. The three men were exhorted to hold on. It took the steamer twenty minutes to get near the over- turned sharpie again and rescue the remain ing three, who were almost exhausted. They were taken aboard and every attention shown them. The Kissimee did not go to Faulkner's Island as was intended, but took it's passen- gers on a sail about Stratford light owing to the heavy wind. The men rescued were:
 Henry Roster,
 George Gruener,
 William Delage,
 William Ralston.
 A Fair Haven oysterman who had put ashore when the storm came up put out again when he saw the sharpie capsize. He arrived few moments after the men were rescued by those aboard the Kissimee. He also de- serves great praise for putting out in the face of the gale in his frail craft.
 Captain Foster of the Messenger picked up several disabled crews. The masts and sails of most of them were carried away. The Messenger was bound down the harbor with a pleasure party, but owing to the heavy gale turned back.
 A party of young men had quite an experi ence, which they probably wouldn't care to repeat. During the gale they were out on the harbor when the storm came up, nearly opposite the old copper works at the Cove. They apparently didn't know how to manage the boat, as in spite of all their endeavors she drifted towards the shore. A rowboat put out to the rescue and by the aid of haw- ser managed to keep the young mems craft from going on the rocks.
 An elm tree two feet and a half in circnn- ference and about forty feet high was broken off six feet from the ground on Greene street l during the gale.